Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy: Problem 91_GO

Two blocks, of masses \( M = 2.0 \text{ kg} \) and \( 2M \), are connected to a spring of spring constant \( k = 200 \text{ N/m} \) that has one end fixed, as shown in Fig. 8.52. The horizontal surface and the pulley are frictionless, and the pulley has negligible mass. The blocks are released from rest with the spring relaxed. (a) What is the combined kinetic energy of the two blocks when the hanging block has fallen \( 0.090 \text{ m} \)? (b) What is the kinetic energy of the hanging block when it has fallen that \( 0.090 \text{ m} \)? (c) What maximum distance does the hanging block fall before momentarily stopping?